Alexia Putellas has silenced the doubters. When Barcelona entered the 2025-26 season hamstrung by financial constraints and a depleted squad, skeptics questioned whether the club could sustain its dominance across four competitions. The answer came in emphatic fashion: 41 wins from 45 matches, a seventh successive Liga F title, the Supercopa de Espana, the Copa de la Reina, and now a berth in the Women's Champions League final on Saturday. One more victory delivers an unprecedented quadruple.
The Spanish midfielder has been the driving force behind this unlikely run. Putellas dismissed pre-season concerns with characteristic bluntness when asked about the noise surrounding Barcelona's struggles in the transfer market. "We have never doubted ourselves," she told local broadcaster 3Cat. "All the noise coming from the outside is just noise." That mentality has permeated the entire squad, even as the club operated with just 21 first-team players—a skeleton crew by elite standards.
From Injury to Excellence
Putellas's personal journey makes her season all the more striking. The 32-year-old suffered a devastating ACL injury on the eve of Euro 2022, a blow that sidelined her for most of 2022-23 and left her in a limited role at Spain's 2023 World Cup triumph. Lingering issues carried into 2023-24. Last season marked her first full campaign since winning back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards in 2021 and 2022, and she played some of the best football of her career: 27 goals and 21 assists across all competitions.
She has maintained that elite level into 2025-26, absorbing even greater responsibility as Barcelona's midfield and attacking spine. The club's response to financial pressures—letting go of established stars like Ingrid Engen, Ellie Roebuck, and Fridolina Rolfo while promoting youth products Clara Serrajordi and Aicha Camara—placed extra weight on Putellas's shoulders. Shrewd recruitment of young talent such as Esmee Brugts and Vicky Lopez provided support, but the creative and goal-scoring burden fell largely to the captain.
The Ballon d'Or Case
Last year's Ballon d'Or race proved remarkably tight, with just 118 votes separating the top four finalists. Putellas's omission from the top spot left many feeling she deserved recognition for her performances during Spain's run to the 2025 European Championship final. This season presents her clearest opportunity for a third award. A Champions League triumph to cap Barcelona's quadruple bid would be a powerful statement to voters across world football. Putellas has transformed a perceived weakness into her greatest strength: leading Barcelona through adversity and proving that depth, belief, and individual brilliance can overcome any obstacle. Saturday's final will determine whether that narrative reaches its perfect conclusion.
